SIMON THE HUGGER

Consent is key.

Simon the sloth loves to hug. He hugs family, friends, trees, rocks, even himself. One day, while Simon is playing with his best friend, Elsa the jaguar, she tells him she doesn’t feel like being hugged. Simon is confused, but Elsa is firm. Other friends also decline Simon’s hugs, even when he offers them in celebration. When he arrives at a birthday party, he immediately hugs a young tamarin, who screams, “No!” The other guests make their disapproval clear. Dejected, Simon makes a sign—“Please hug me!”—and stands waiting. His only taker is Ricky the porcupine. As Ricky leans in, Simon realizes that for the first time he doesn’t want a hug. Undismayed, Ricky offers a fist bump instead. Realizing that both parties must agree to a hug, Simon eventually makes up with Elsa following a brief episode in which he cares for her after she injures her paw. Though the cutesy, cartoonish illustrations are serviceable and the story is nothing special, it makes the topic of consent easy to grasp, especially for those encountering the subject for the first time. Davids ends with a discussion guide for grown-ups fielding questions from young readers, encouraging “a supportive, nonjudgmental manner” and including the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network’s website in case “unexpected disclosures” come up. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Fills a need, though only by basic standards.